The five common Thermal Insulation materials

Before deciding which Heat Resistant Insulation materials you feel are right for you, there are profuse things you need to consider. What is the R-value, price, sound insulation properties & environmental impact? Here is a list of the five most commonly used insulation materials & what they can do for you.

Mineral Wool

Mineral wool covers quite a few kinds of insulation. It could refer to either glass wool which is fibreglass manufactured from recycled glass or rock wool which is a kind of insulation made from basalt. Most mineral wool doesn’t have additives to make it fire resistant, making it poor for use in situations where extreme heat is present. 

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is an immensely popular insulation material. One of its key benefits is value. Fibreglass insulation has a lower installed price than many other kinds of Heat Resistant Insulation materials and, for equivalent R-Value performance (i.e., thermal resistance), it is generally the most reasonable option when compared to cellulose or spray foam insulation systems. Because of how it is made, by effectively weaving fine strands of glass into a pre-engineered building insulation material, fibreglass is able to minimize heat transfer. It is essential when installing fibreglass that the requisite safety equipment is worn, as glass powder & tiny shards of glass are formed, which could potentially cause damage to the eyes, skin, and lungs. Fibreglass is a superb non-flammable insulation material, with R-values ranging from R-2.9 to R-3.8 per inch

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a waterproof thermoplastic foam that is an excellent sound & temperature insulation material. It comes in 2 kinds, expanded (EPS) & extruded (XEPS) also known as Styrofoam. It is utilized in both residential & commercial settings. Polystyrene insulation is very rigid. Typically the foam is created or cut into blocks, ideal for wall or pre-engineered building insulations.

Cellulose

Cellulose is a very ecological form of insulation. It is composed of 75-85 percent recycled paper fibre, usually post-consumer waste newsprint. As of the compactness of the Heat Resistant Insulation materials, cellulose contains next to no oxygen within it. Without oxygen within the insulation material, this assists to minimise the amount of damage that a fire can cause. So not only is cellulose perhaps one of the most ecological forms of insulation, but it is also one of the most fire-resistant forms of Pre-Engineered Building Insulations. Cellulose has an R-value b/w R-3.1 & R-3.7.

Polyurethane Foam

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is made by mixing & reacting chemicals to create a foam. The mixing & reacting materials react very quickly, expanding on contact to create foam that insulates, air seals & provide a moisture barrier. They are relatively light, weighing approximately 2 pounds per cubic foot, & have an R-value of approximately R-6.3 per inch of thickness.